The Trojans made just enough plays on offense to survive a hard-hitting, defensive battle for a 15-6 victory in the Bayou Battle. Much of the game was played in a steady rain and some strong wind gusts, contributing to the offensive struggles.

In the process, Fruitport improved to 3-0 overall, won its second consecutive Lakes 8 game and left its coach feeling satisfied about beating a rival despite some missed opportunities. In other words, the Trojans left on a positive trend.

“It was not pretty for sure,” said Fruitport coach Greg Vargas. “I know the rain contributed to it a little bit.

“Luckily, we live to fight another day with an unblemished record,” Vargas added.

For Spring Lake, the close loss – Fruitport’s lead was 9-6 with just over 1 minute remaining in the game – dropped the team’s record to 1-2 and left its coach lamenting 10 turnovers in the first three games. Three turnovers in Friday’s game, plus some personal fouls, add to an offense that has been shutout in the second half of its last two games.

Spring Lake coach Jerry Rabideau said his team is hurting itself with the turnovers and he wouldn’t use the weather conditions as an excuse.

“We’ve just got to find a way to get our offense to work,” Rabideau said. “Our defense was outstanding.”

However, before Fruitport’s late fourth-quarter drive, the outcome was in serious doubt. The Trojans held a 9-6 lead after a 29-yard field goal by Matt Boroff early in the third quarter.

After stopping Spring Lake inside the Fruitport 28-yard line, the Trojans moved the ball into Trojan territory and faced a pivotal third-down-and-12 play with 3:49 remaining in the game. Quarterback Tyler Fehler, under pressure by two Spring Lake defenders, threw a 22-yard pass to tight end Amilio Flores. A few players later, Dakota Gordon scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a six-yard run to cap the scoring.

Fehler, who missed part of last week’s game due to an ankle injury, started Friday and played the entire game at quarterback. After the game, he said his ankle felt better than it did the week before.

Fehler looked more comfortable running and throwing in the second half of the game after getting advice from an assistant coach not to favor the ankle, but go all out.

“We’re feeling good,” Fehler said of the team’s 3-0 start.

Fruitport finished with 174 yards of total offense. Gordon rushed 12 times for 57 yards, including both touchdowns for the Trojans. Shawn Knox added 37 yards rushing on eight carries. Mitchell Reyes also had an 81-yard kickoff return to open the second half, setting up the tiebreaking field goal.

Spring Lake finished with 153 yards of total offense. Senior Cody Berkobien led all rushers with 110 yards on 14 carries. Berkobien left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury that his coach described as his shoulder popping out of its socket.

Senior Jake Chittenden scored Spring Lake’s touchdown on a 1-yard run in the second quarter. That touchdown was set up by a 55-yard run from Berkobien.

Fruitport tied the score just before halftime on Gordon’s 16-yard touchdown run. That score was the first play after Gordon recovered a Spring Lake fumble.